After the Taratala collapse incident in which 16 individuals lost their lives, a series of explosive details have emerged regarding Kalicharan Banerjee, popularly known as ‘Kali’, the OSD (Officer on Special Duty) to former Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim, the latest being the huge amounts of bribe that was allegedly paid to ‘regularise’ illegal constructions.
Many have demanded that several files processed under Section 401 of the Building Rules, which deals with the ‘regularisation’ of illegal constructions, should be brought under investigation.
Municipal sources claim that the files concerning the regularisation of illegal constructions were a major source of revenue for this racket. It has been alleged that meetings were regularly held at a luxury hotel adjacent to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters, where lakhs were collected in exchange for legitimising illegal structures. Officials claim to have already obtained certain information and documents related to these activities.
According to a senior municipal official, no one dared to speak out against Kalicharan because he was a trusted aide of the former Mayor. However, following the state’s political shift, officials from various departments are now bringing these past irregularities to light. They have asserted that a thorough review of all files settled under Section 401 could reveal the true extent of the corruption.
The allegations suggest that the process typically kicked off with the issuance of a ‘Stop Work’ notice under Section 401 against an illegal construction. Subsequently, the property owners would be summoned, and a hefty sum demanded for regularisation. The bribe amount determined the priority of the hearing, which structures would be legalised, and which would face demolition orders. It has also been claimed that these files were either left pending indefinitely or demolition orders were issued if the demanded money was not paid.
A section of the KMC’s Building Department has alleged that, alongside Kalicharan, two officials from the ‘Hearing Department’ played pivotal roles in this entire process. They were responsible for liaising with the property owners and finalising the financial transactions. Once the money changed hands, the relevant files would be presented at hearings in such a manner that the Special Hearing Officer was left with no option but to order their regularisation.
Sections from the municipality have also demanded to bring other municipal officials and employees who were complicit with Kalicharan, into custody and interrogate them. They have argued that the full extent of the corruption network surrounding illegal constructions will not be revealed unless a proper investigation is launched into this scam.
Speaking about this rampant extortion that had been ongoing for years, the outgoing Councillor of Ward 45 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and BJP leader Santosh Pathak claimed that he had previously warned the municipal authorities multiple times about Kalicharan’s conduct.
Pathak alleged that though the civic authorities had information regarding the specific hotels where these meetings took place and how the financial transactions were conducted, no significant measures were taken.